Munich, Germany

Photo credit: lonelyplanet.com

It's been a week since Semana Blanca, but now I'm finally getting around to posting about the individual cities we visited. Turns out there is a bit of homework associated with studying abroad, and I've been a little preoccupied.

So, first stop: Munich, Germany

If I had to sum Munich up in two words, I'd describe it as a hidden gem.

Whereas Berlin may be the New York of Germany, I would call Munich the Chicago of Germany. AKA, the quintessential Germany.

The Glockenspiel in Marienplatz.

Here's a snapshot of what we experienced:

1. Foreign McDonalds is an experience, no?

We arrived at our hostel around 11 p.m., and soon after checking in we set out to scavenge for food. The 11 of us ended up walking into a restaurant nearby, and when no one greeted us at the door, we proceeded to seat ourselves. We then started to get weird looks from the bartenders and the hostess yelled at us to come back to the entrance. Maybe that was the first time we realized that a group of 11 American, college-aged girls can't go anywhere unnoticed.

Anyway, once we were sat down and had decided what to eat, the waitress came over and told us that the kitchen was closed and they were only serving drinks. So, feeling like complete idiots, we dashed out of there and into the McDonalds next door. Yes, our first meal was at McDonalds. But we rationalized the decision by saying that we tried somewhere else before, and this alternative was cheaper. Yay euro menu!

2. We're not in Spain anymore...

When we were buying anything or talking to anyone, we kept instinctively saying "sí" and "gracias." It took a little while for us to stop doing this.

3.Viktualienmarkt

We woke up relatively early and headed over to Viktualienmarkt to buy breakfast. This market was amazing. It was a plaza filled with fruit, bread, cheese, vegetables, meat and German trinket stands. I went on the hunt for a Linzer torte, an Austrian pastry that my dad always gets when we're abroad. I also ended up with a couple pears, which semi-satisfied my fruit withdrawal.

Linzer torte. Delicious!

4. A German bachelor's party

Katie and I had a little time to kill before we were going to meet the rest of the girls in Marienplatz after our tour of Dachau, so we decided to find a place to get a good German beer. We eventually came across a small pub that was decked out in what looked like Christmas/Mardi Gras decorations. So, we walked out of the 4 p.m. daylight and right into a rowdy bachelor's party. We were immediately approached by two slightly intoxicated men, one who was 35 but looked 20, and the other looked about 50 years old. Let's call the 35 year old John (I forget his real name). Anyway, John was wearing this ridiculous hat (see picture — no need for explanation) and after Katie and I got ourselves some sort of beer, he started dancing with me and twirling me around this crowded pub. I felt so out of place in my hiking shoes and coat and scarf still on, but nonetheless, it was still a weird, good time. After the 50 year old asked Katie for her email address (no joke), we decided it was time to leave.

5. Hofbräuhaus

This place was downright fantastic. Founded in 1589 and frequented by Mozart and Hitler alike, this huge beer hall can hold thousands of people. On our search for a table, we met Morgan, an American studying in Berlin who was on a solo trip to Munich. We invited her to eat with us and eventually slid into a recently vacated booth right in the middle of all the action of the hall.

After much contemplation, we all decided to order the €7, 1-liter mugs of beer. (However, we kind of cheated and got the Radler, which is a combination of beer and lemonade. Sounds strange, but it was DELICIOUS.) I also ordered a white sausage with potatoes, and that was one of the best meals I've ever had. My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it.

There was a German polka band playing on a nearby stage and at least a dozen times while we were there it played what I think was part of the German national anthem, and people all around the hall sang along. We all just sang the pitches and soaked up the amazing atmosphere.

Prost!

Next up: Prague, Czech Republic!